Indenter tool for tubing



July 25, 1967 5, TONCHEN 3,332,272

INDENTER TOOL FOR TUBING Filed April 9, 1965 FIG?) INVENTOR.

STEPHEN TONCHEN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,332,272 INDENTER TOOLFOR TUBING Stephen Tonchen, Kewanee, Ill., assignor to Midland- RossCorporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 9, 1965,Ser. No. 446,823 6 Claims. (Cl. 72-410) This invention relates to a toolwhose particular application is in the electrical circuit installationindustry. More particularly, the invention relates to a plier-likemanually actuated indenter tool adapted by an indentation of onecylindrical conduit while over another to therethrough provide for afirm connection.

Tubular metallic sections are generally used as conduits for electricalwiring and, where lengthy installations are made, these are joined by aunion or sleeve-like connector and/0r coupling, or by the insertion ofone end of a conduit into an enlarged end of another section. The tubingsections are secured to each other by desirably, quickly and simplycrimping the section connectors or unions. This is readily effected by aplier-like tool having within its jaws inwardly protruding pins or lugswhich, upon a closure of the tool, travel radially inwardly into theconnector surface tightly locking the connections through theirindentation. The present invention is an improvement over existingsimilar tools in that it provides pliers having means to impress aconnection at at least three points substantially equally spaced andgenerally radially operational. The three points of indentation in asingle manual operation securely tie the connector union or sleeve to aconduit with a single handling of a single indenting operation.

Ordinarily, where less than three equispaced indenters are utilized theoperator has to swing the pliers about the circumference of theconnector and, through judgment, select an equidistant position from thefirst pair of indentations. It has been found that a single three spacedindentation is more quickly effected and that it is generally more thanthe full equivalent in strength of four or more indentations.

The tool is designed to form three identations, simultaneously andequally spaced around the fitting, with one squeeze of the indentertool. Tests have proved that the pressure applied to three equallyspaced points around the fitting eliminates distortion of tubing shapeand does not disturb the fixed penetration which the tool forms in thecombined parts.

The customary two point indenter tool, which requires two to three pairof indentations, tends to deform the fitting by offsetting the initialpair of indentations, distort ing the fitting initially in one directionand, then, through further indentation, distorting the fitting in anopposite direction.

The particular type of plier-like indenter of this invention is uniquelyconstructed and assembled so as to provide equispaced indentations.Generally, the plier comprises opposing jaws supported in bifurcatedends of a yoke and, where in each jaw and in the yoke base, there is anindenter pin. The yoke portion of the pliers provides a floating supportonto which, generally, the connector tube is laid, the handles uponbeing squeezed immediately centrally position the conduit impressingtherein three indentations to secure the connection. The constr-uctionand the advantages of such plier-like indenter will be readily apparentfrom the following description and the illustrated embodiment as shownin the accompanying drawing, where:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the novel plier-like indenter tool embodyingthe herein mentioned principles;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the head portion of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 represents fragmental sections of a conduit connection beingeifected by the indenter of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of FIG- URE 1, showing inthe open position the location of the indenter pins or lugs; and

FIGURE 6 is a detail, in partial section, of the indenter as it closesupon a conduit.

The indenter pliers 10 of FIGURE 1 is shown to be a combination of apair of sturdy jaw-like members 11 and 12 attached to operationalextending members or handles 13 and 14. Each jaw 11, 12 is positioned inone bifurcated end of the yoke 15 and is supported by and pivots aboutpins 18 and 19 respectively. The pins, also, are positioned in andextend through bifurcated ends of the yoke 15.

This is more clearly shown in FIGURE 2 where the plier-indenter 10 hasthe jaw 12 member positioned between the bifurcated sides of the yoke15. The yoke member 15 also has a transverse and ar-cuate base portion23 (see FIGURES 5 and 6) making a generally U-shaped yoke element havingopen ends, between which openings there are positioned the plier jaws 11and 12. The yoke 15 and the jaws 11, 12 are so constructed that whenclosed, they form with the yoke base a nearly full circle, the diameterbeing about that of the tubing to be interconnected. As stated herein,each jaw 11, 12 and the yoke base have an indenter pin or element. Theconduit indenting elements 25, 26 and 27 have enlarged cylindrical basesor flared midsections with rod-like base extensions and are positionedin accessible recesses provided for them in the jaw members 11 and 12and in the yoke 15 base. Each indenter pin or element 25, 26, 27 can bereached for replacement through provided for openings or passages(FIGURES 4 and 5) in the jaws 11, 12 and in the body portion of the yokemember 15 as well. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 5, the indenter element 25can be knocked out through the opening 40 in the jaw 11, indenter 26 canbe knocked out through opening 41 of jaw 12, and indenter 27 can beremoved for replacement through an opening 43 provided in the yoke bodyportion 23 accessible, however, only when channels 30, 31 are combined.

In FIGURE 4, the upper two openings 40, 41 are shown being positioned inrecesses provided for them in each jaw 11, 12 or in the upper two-thirdsof a circle formed when the pliers is closed. The third indenter element27 is positioned in the yoke body portion 23 or the middle when viewedfrom the top. As herein stated, accessibility to the indenter element 27is had through channels 30, 31 when superimposed and when each arm orthe handle portions 13, 14 are spread. When the pliers are opened fullyas shown in FIGURE 5, the channel portions 30, 31 line up in the handlesor arms 13, 14 to coincide to form a common opening or passage throughwhich a knockout pin can be inserted into the opening 43 for the removalof the indenter pin 27.

A metal conduit through which electrical wires are strung can be quicklyjoined together through the use of the tool being described. As shown inFIGURE 3, a conduit 35 may be joined to a sleeve or coupling connection37, or inserted into socket 37A or an enlarged receiving end of theflange portion of a conduit 36 and locked there in by a single use ofthe indenter tool being brought to bear about the sleeve or flange 37,37A. A single manual squeezing of the plier indenter will secure theconnection in one operation in three places about the circumference. Theindentation eifected is as shown at 44 in FIGURE 3; both tubularsections 35, 36 are joined in continuity by creasing inwardly the unionor coupling connector 37 into the tubes 35, 36 to thus make a lockingconnection at points 44 of indentation.

The result of indentation 44 and effectiveness is more clearly shown inFIGURE 6. When the plier handles 13, 14 are brought together about thecoupling connector 37 positioned about two inside abutting tubingsections 35, 36, the squeezing brings the jaw portions 11, 12 towardeach other bearing the connector sleeves 37 downwardly against theindenter pin 27 centering it thereovcr and also against pins 25, 26. Thecoupling or connector sleeve 37 and the tubing ends are impressed withthree indentations 44 effecting a firm connection. When the jaws arebrought together, there is a readjustment about the base pin, the jawsreadily pivoting about pins 18 and 19 to effect equalization of forcestaking place to locate the connector even- 1y within the jaws forsubstantially equal pressure on all indenting pins.

What is claimed is:

1. A plier-like indenter tool comprising, a pair of opposing plier armshaving arm and jaw portions, means linkingly interconnecting said plierarms within the area of the jaw portions, and indenting lugs in each ofsaid jaw portions and within the base of said jaws being adapted uponactuation of the plier arms to simultaneously indent a conduit placedwithin the jaws at at least three points in its circumference.

2. A plier-like indenter tool comprising, a pair of opposing plier armshaving arm and arcuate jaw portions, a yoke having bifurcated ends andan arcuate intermediate portion, said jaw portions being positioned inthe yoke end bifurcations, pivot pins extending through the yoke endsand the jaw portions positioned therein, said yoke along with said jawsadapted upon closing to encircle a conduit when placed therebetween, andconduit indenting lugs positioned in each jaw and in the yoke.

33. A plier-like indenter tool comprising, a pair of opposing plier armshaving arm and arcuate jaw portions, a yoke having bifurcated ends andan arcuate intermediate portion, said jaw portions being positioned inthe yoke end bifurcations, pivot pins extending through the yoke endsand the jaw portions positioned therein, said yoke along with said jawsadapted upon closing to encircle a conduit when placed therebetween, andat least three conduit indenting lugs positioned generally equidistantfrom the other in each jaw and in the yoke.

4. A plier-like indenter tool comprising, a pair of opposing plier armshaving arm and arcuate jaw portions, a yoke having bifurcated ends andan arcuate intermediate base portion, said jaw portions being positionedin the yoke end bifurcation, pivot pins extending through the yoke endsand the jaw portions positioned therein, said yoke along with said jawsadapted upon closing to encircle a conduit when placed therebetween,conduit indenting lugs positioned in each jaw and in the yoke base andoutside access passages in each jaw and the yoke base to the lugs forsubsequent replacement thereof.

5. A plier-like indenter tool comprising, a pair of opposing plier armshaving arm and jaw portions, the one joined to the other through acrossing shoulder portion, each shoulder portion having a channel, saidchannels upOI1 full plier opening coinciding to make an access passageto a lug positioned in the base of the plier jaws, a yoke having openends with an intermediate arcuate base portion, pivot pins extendingthrough the yoke ends and the jaws positioned therein, said jaws andsaid base yoke portion being adapted to substantially encircle a conduitwhen placed therebetween, conduit indenting lugs positioned in each jawand in the yoke base, and outside access passages in each jaw and in theyoke base to the said lugs for their replacement, one of said passagesbeing the shoulder formed channel.

6. A plier-like indenter tool comprising, a pair of opposing plier armshaving arm and jaw portions, the arm joined to the jaw through acrossing shoulder portion, each shoulder portion having a channel, saidchannels upon full plier opening coinciding to make an access passage toreach a lug positioned in the base of the plier jaws, a yoke having openends with an intermediate arcuate base portion, said jaw portions beingpositioned in the open yoke ends, pivot pins extending through the yokeends and the jaws positioned therein, said jaws and said base yokeportion being adapted to substantially encircle a conduit when placedtherein, conduit indenting lugs positioned in each jaw and in the yokebase, outside access passages in each jaw and in the yoke base to thelugs for their removal, and the said shoulder formed channel openingproviding the access to the passage in the base portion of the yoke.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,254,416 9/1941 Burns 72-4102,787,925 4/1957 Buchanan et a1. 72410 3,234,776 2/1966 Stoltz 724l0RICHARD J. HERBST, Primary Examiner.

R. D. GREFE, Assistant Examiner.

1. A PLIER-LIKE INDENTER TOOL COMPRISING, A PAIR OF OPPOSING PLIER ARMSHAVING ARM AND JAW PORTIONS, MEANS LINKINGLY INTERCONNECTING SAID PLIERARMS WITHIN THE AREA OF THE JAW PORTIONS, AND INDENTING LUGS IN EACH OFSAID JAW PORTIONS AND WITHIN THE BASE OF SAID JAWS BEING ADAPTED UPONACTUATION OF THE PLIER ARMS TO SIMULTANEOUSLY INDENT A CONDUIT PLACEDWITHIN THE JAWS AT AT LEAST THREE POINTS IN ITS CIRCUMFERENCE.